Schedule
Hear from outdoor leaders and experts sharing insights, ideas, and inspiration, then connect with others working to shape the future of outdoor recreation.
The schedule below highlights the 2026 Summit. Check back for the 2027 schedule.
|
Time |
Event |
Title |
Presenter(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
9:00 am – 10:00 am |
Check In & Coffee Service |
||
|
10:00 am – 10:30 am |
Opening |
Welcome Address |
Roo Yawitz, River City Outdoors; Dan Burkhardt, Magnificent Missouri |
|
10:45 am – 11:30 am |
Breakout 1A |
Making the Case for the Outdoors: Health, Education, and Economic Impact |
Dr. Evan Coulson, Trailhead Collective; Dr. Katie Dudley, University of Illinois Extension; Dr. Brooke Jacobs, Delve Health Consulting |
|
Breakout 1B |
Reimagining Downtown St. Louis: Building a Better City Through the Outdoors |
Arielle Claypool, Gateway Arch Park Foundation; Mark Perkins, Great Rivers Greenway; Mona Vespa, GO! St. Louis |
|
|
11:45 am – 12:30 pm |
Breakout 2A |
How We Built It: Turning Grassroots Ideas Into Real Projects |
Aubrey Byron and Matt Wyczalkowski, St. Louis Coalition to Protect Cyclists & Pedestrians (CP2); Ryan Hanlon, Friends of Carondelet Park; Ricky Hughes, STL Run Crew |
|
Breakout 2B |
What’s Possible Here: Lessons from Cities that Bet on the Outdoors |
Kristina Anderson, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board; Melanie Borger; RIVERSPORT Foundation; Brannon Pack, Experience Fayettevile |
|
|
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm |
Lunch |
||
|
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm |
Featured Presentation |
Parks, People, and Prosperity: Insights from Missouri’s 2026 State Parks Reports |
Daniel Engler, Missouri State Parks |
|
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm |
Breakout 3A |
Missouri’s Rivers: Protecting and Growing Our Greatest Outdoor Asset |
Steve Schnarr, Missouri River Relief; Michael Sertle, American Rivers; David Tobey, Ozark Riverways Foundation; Charlene Waggoner, Missouri Paddling Coalition; Brian Waldrop, Missouri Department of Conservation |
|
Breakout 3B |
Telling Your Outdoor Story: Building a Destination People Want to Visit |
Cory Jobe, Great Rivers & Routes; Tony Mellinger, Aspen Creative; Kyle Spradley, Kyle Spradley Photography |
|
|
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
Outdoor Reset |
||
|
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm |
Refreshments & Networking |
||
|
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm |
Keynote Address |
From Five to 500,000: Building a Movement Through Leadership, Strategy, and Community |
Anthony Reed, former Fortune 500 executive, Hall of Fame athlete, author, award-winning filmmaker, nationally recognized speaker |
|
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm |
Closing |
Closing Remarks |
Matt Green, River City Outdoors |